Nintendo's 3DS XL sports a pair of big screens (pictures)

Nintendo lifts the veil on its latest gaming gizmo, the 3DS XL, an enlarged version of the Nintendo 3DS handheld.

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Nintendo 3DS XL

Speaking before an anonymous Internet audience, Reggie Fils-Aime, President of Nintendo of America, announced a new $199 3DS XL gaming handheld due August 19. The Nintendo 3DS XL sports 90 percent larger screens and a boost in battery life compared with its predecessor, the Nintendo 3DS.

Nintendo also announced that the 3DS XL has the same resolution as the 3DS, and comes with a 4GB SD card. Battery life clocks in at 3.5 to 6.5 hours when playing 3DS games (compared with 3 to 5 hours for the 3DS), and 6 to 10 hours for DS games (compared with 5 to 8 hours for the 3DS).

3DS XL red box

White and gray 3DS XL

Gamers in the U.S. must wait much longer (August 19) for the 3DS XL than those in Japan and Europe, as Nintendo plans to launch the device on July 28 in those territories. In Japan, Nintendo named the 3DS XL the 3DS LL. Meanwhile, 3DS XL color availability varies: Japanese consumers can purchase white, red, or silver, while Europeans can purchase the handheld in silver, red, and blue.